Collectable display panel and data storage device

ABSTRACT

A collectable display panel and data storage device is described. The invention involves at least one display panel that is formed for housing and displaying at least one collectable object, such as a coin. The display panel has associative visual markings for one or more collectable objects. A data storage device has associative visual markings with at least one display panel, and comprises data related to one or more collectable objects that are housed in the display panel. The data storage device is stored in the display panel, and is compatible with a standard computer system. Thus, it is connectable, directly or indirectly to a computer system or equivalent system by wired or wireless means. In one embodiment of the present invention, the collectable object is a coin.

REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/493,312 filed on Jul. 26, 2006, by the inventor herein,entitled PROTECTION, AUTHENTICATION, IDENTIFICATION DEVICE FOR ACOLLECTABLE OBJECT.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the collectable display boards, anddisplay albums for such collectables as coins and stamps.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Collecting coins has been an enjoyable pastime for many generations. Toenhance coin collecting, a number of display boards and albums have beendeveloped to assist collectors in displaying and assembling sets ofcoins. One popular example, is the Whitman® display boards and albumsthat are constructed to allow coins to be inserted into openings of thedisplay panel and providing for a number of coins to be displayed on onedisplay panel. The display panel has circular openings that allow for acoin to be pressed into a cavity that holds the edges of the coin inplace. Another example, is a coin album that comprises several displaypanels in order to house an entire series or collection. These displaypanels and albums typically have associative visual markings to identifya certain characteristic of each coin, or a series of related coins,such as the date, denomination series, and mintmark of the coin. Coinsand other collectibles usually have a substantial amount of history,artistry, and lore that is associated with the coin or collectableobject. Unfortunately, the display panels have limited surface area forexpansive printed information or images and a collector is often timesunaware of the interesting history surrounding the coin and the coin'sdesign. For instance, the United States has minted a series of quarterdollar coins depicting designs of the fifty states that has becomeimmensely popular with young and old collectors. Applicant believes thatthe rich history associated with a coin's design is especially appealingfor the marketing, education, and collecting of that coin. Applicantbelieves a collectable display panel and data storage device willsignificantly enhance the marketing, sales, education, and enjoyment incollector based industries.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the present invention, a collectable display paneland data storage device is described. The invention involves at leastone display panel that is formed for housing and displaying at least onecollectable object, such as a coin. The display panel has associativevisual markings for one or more collectable objects. A data storagedevice that has associative visual markings with at least one displaypanel, comprises data that includes at least in part, data relating toat least one collectable object housed in at least one display panel.The data storage device is stored in a display panel, or auxiliary paneland is compatible with a standard computer system. Thus, it isconnectable, directly or indirectly to a computer system or equivalentsystem by wired or wireless means. In one embodiment of the presentinvention, the collectable object is a coin.

Recognizing the need for an improved collectable display panel and datastorage device, the following objectives are considered:

It is an important objective of the present invention to provide for acommercially viable collectable display panel or plurality of displaypanels, such as an album, that provides for enhanced information storagecapabilities for collectable objects such as coins, stamps, baseballcards and currency.

It is another important objective of the present invention to provideenhanced information about a collectable object that is housed in adisplay panel that is easily accessible to the user or collector.

It is another important objective of the present invention to providefor a compact data storage device that is easily housed in combinationwith a collectable display panel or display album and having relevantinformation of the collectable objects that are housed and displayed inthe same display panel or album.

It is another important objective of the present invention to provideassociative visual markings with the display panel or display album andthe data storage device.

It is another important objective of the present invention to providethe user with a data storage device that stores digital images andcharacteristics of the collectable object/s, and can be viewed by meansof a standard computer.

It is another important objective of the present invention to providethe ability to store historical information of the collectable object/sto promote marketing, sales, and education of the collectable object/s.

It is another important objective of the present invention to providethe ability for the data storage device to easily link with apredetermined external database to provide the user with additional orcorresponding information of the collectable object.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a right front perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a right front perspective of another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 shows a right front perspective of another embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 shows a right front perspective of another embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings which are for the purpose of illustratingpreferred embodiments of the present invention and are not for thepurpose of limiting same, FIG. 1 shows a right front perspective view ofthe present invention. Display panel 1 is a collectable type displayboard formed to display and house one or more collectable objects, suchas coins. Other collectable objects such as stamps, baseball cards,etc., are additional examples of collectable objects that may beapplicable to the present invention. Display panel 1 may be made from awide variety of materials, but are typically manufactured from paper andcardboard composite materials. Display panel 1 is designed to house anddisplay a collectable object, such as coin 31, or a related series ofcollectable objects, and display panel 1 would have associative markings3 that are related at least in part, to the displayed coin, or a seriesof coins. Opening 9 is a circular opening that is very close in size tothe diameter of the coin, and coin 31 is pressed into opening 9 to holdthe coin in place for display. Typically, opening 9 and coin 31 rely ona friction fit housing method, however, other means to house and displaythe coin/s in a display panel would also be applicable to the presentinvention. Data storage device 21 is a Flash Memory type data storagedevice, such as a USB flash memory device. A USB type data storagedevice is illustrated only as an example for it's compact size, andpreferred non-volatile memory (NVM) capability, but many other examplesof data storage devices could also be utilized, such as a PC Card,Memory Card, MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital Card, Memory Stick,xD-Picture Card and other compact sized, solid-state data storagedevices. For data security reasons, data storage device 21 may comprisea Read-Only-Memory (ROM) condition that is immutable to prevent a userfrom altering or erasing the data of the data storage device 21.Immutable shall mean that the data is highly resistant to change oralteration. Data storage device 21 has visual markings 23 that areassociative with visual markings 3 of display panel 1. Visual markings 3are associated at least in part, with coin 31, or a series of coins thatare housed in display panel 1. For user reference purposes andcorrelation of display panel 1 associative markings 3, data storagedevice 21 has associative markings 23, and can readily be associated bya user with display panel 1. Associate markings 23 may be affixed todata storage device 21, for example, by means of a durable label, suchas a polycarbonate label with sub-surface printing and a permanentadhesive. Associate markings 23 may also include other makings such as aserial number, barcode, or other information with relevance to datastorage device 21, coin 31, or display panel 1. Data storage device 21comprises data that includes, at least in part, data that is related tocoin 31, or a series of coins related to coin 31. For example, datastorage device 21 may include historical information and images aboutthe coin design of coin 31, such as information related to the designelements, the designer or engraver, the minting process, mintages, andmint facility origins of coin 31. These are just examples of typicallyrelevant information of coin 31, and the amount and diversity of data isonly limited by the memory capability of data storage device 21. Datastorage device 21 may also comprise one or more electronic links, suchas a Hyperlinks, that can electronically fetch a predetermined externaldatabase that maintains data associated with coin 31, or otherinformation such as marketing information, or coin valuationsinformation relevant to coin 31, or a series of related coins. Forconvenient and ergonomic storage purposes, data storage device 21 isstored in cavity 5 that is formed into display panel 1 by means of afriction fit method, and an ergonomic finger opening 7 allows a methodfor a user to remove data storage device 21 easily from display panel 1.This method of storage is only one example, and those skilled in the artwill appreciate there are many other viable methods of storing datastorage device 21 with display panel 1. Data storage device 21 iscompatible and connectable with a standard computer system or equivalentsystem.

FIG. 2 shows a right front perspective another embodiment of the presentinvention. Data storage device 51 is non-detachably secured to displaypanel 41 that houses at least one collectable object, such as a coin 71,that is stored in display panel cavity 49. “Non-detachable” shall meanthat it resists disassembly. Although data storage device 51 isnon-detachably secured to display panel 41, other structural variationsof data storage devices may be utilized, including examples that havemovement capability while remaining secured to display panel 41. Forexample, data storage device 51 may comprise a hinge having a portsection that opens for interface with a data storage interface device,such as a USB cable that is connectable to a standard computer system.Opening 45 in display panel 41 is shown as an example to provide portaccess to data storage device 51. Also referred to in FIG. 1, the datastorage device 51 is a USB type data storage device; although thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that many other types of compact datastorage devices can be substituted within the scope of the invention.Data storage device 51 comprises data that includes at least in part,data that is related to coin 71, or a series of coins that are housed indisplay panel 41. Data storage device 51 is compatible and connectablewith a standard computer system with or without Internet capability. Insome instances, data storage device 51 may also comprise electroniclinks, such as Hyperlinks, that can electronically fetch a predeterminedexternal database that maintains data associated with coin 71, or aseries of related coins. Although it is not illustrated, it is common inthe industry that data storage device 51, a USB flash memory type datastorage device, may also have a removable protective port cap to provideport protection from damage and environmental elements. Data storagedevice 51 can be connected to a computer or equivalent system by wiredmeans utilizing for example, a standard USB cable, or by wireless means,by utilizing for example, wireless USB (WUSB) component attachments.

FIG. 3 shows a right front perspective of another embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 3 illustrates the present invention with anauxiliary panel 211, for example an interconnected front cover fordisplay panel 201. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that theremay also be a rear cover. Auxiliary panel 211, is interconnected withdisplay panel 201 by means of a hinge, although other interconnectionmethods could also be utilized. Display panel 201 houses and displaysone or more coins, such as coin 231. Display panel 201 has associativemarkings 203 that are related at least in part, to the displayed coin,or coins related in a coin series. Opening 209 is a circular cavity indisplay panel 201 that houses and displays coin 231. Data storage device221 is a Flash Memory type data storage device, such as a USB flashmemory device and comprises data that includes, at least in part, datathat is related to coin 231, or a series of coins that are housed indisplay panel 201. Data storage device 221 has visual markings 223 thatare associative with visual markings 203 of display panel 201. Visualmarkings 203 are associated at least in part, with coin 231, or a seriesof coins that are housed in display panel 201. For convenient andergonomic storage purposes, data storage device 221 is stored in cavity205 that is formed into auxiliary panel 211 by means of a friction fitmethod, and an ergonomic finger opening 207 allows a method for a userto remove data storage device 221 easily from auxiliary panel 211. Thismethod of storage is only one example, and those skilled in the art willappreciate there are many other viable methods and placement options ofstoring data storage device 221 with auxiliary panel 211. Data storagedevice 221 is compatible and connectable with a standard computer systemor equivalent system.

FIG. 4 shows a right front perspective of another embodiment of thepresent invention. FIG. 4 illustrates the present invention with anauxiliary panel 311, for example, an interconnected front cover fordisplay panel 301. Display panel 301 houses and displays one or morecoins, such as coin 331. Display panel 301 has associative markings 303that are associated at least in part, with coin 331, or coins related ina coin series. Opening 309 is a circular cavity in display panel 301that houses and displays coin 331. Data storage device 321 is a CompactDisk with Read-Only-Memory (CD-ROM) type data storage device. Datastorage device 321 has visual markings 323 that are associative withvisual markings 303 of display panel 301. Visual markings 303 areassociated at least in part, with coin 331, or a series of coins thatare housed in display panel 301. For convenient and ergonomic storagepurposes, data storage device 321 is stored in cavity 305 that is formedinto auxiliary panel 311 by means of a friction fit method, and anergonomic finger opening 307 allows a method for a user to remove CD-ROM321 easily from auxiliary panel 311. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that CD-ROM 321 may also have a protective slipcase orprotective sleeve as commonly known in the industry, and auxiliary panel311 would be alternately formed to accommodate such storage. In oneexample for instance, CD-ROM 321 could slide into a formed slot at thetop or side of auxiliary panel 311. CD-ROM 321 is compatible with astandard computer system with a compact disc reader or equivalentsystem.

Upon reading and understanding the specification of the presentinvention described above, modifications and alterations will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended that all suchmodifications and alterations be included insofar as they come withinthe scope of the patent as claimed or the equivalence thereof.

1. A collectable display panel and data storage device comprising: atleast one display panel formed for housing and displaying at least onecollectable object and having associative visual markings of said atleast one collectable object; and, a data storage device that is storedin at least one said display panel, said data storage device havingassociative visual markings of said at least one display panel, andcomprising data that includes at least in part, data relating to atleast one said collectable object housed in said display panel, and saiddata storage device being compatible and connectable to a standardcomputer system or equivalent system.
 2. A collectable display panel ofclaim 1, wherein said data storage device is stored in an auxiliarypanel that is interconnected to said at least one display panel.
 3. Acollectable display panel of claim 1, wherein said data storage deviceis stored in one said display panel of a plurality of interconnected orrelated display panels.
 4. A collectable display panel of claim 1,wherein said collectable object is a coin.
 5. A data storage device ofclaim 1, wherein said data storage device is detachable from said atleast one display panel.
 6. A data storage device of claim 1, whereinsaid data storage device is a Flash Memory type data storage device. 7.A data storage device of claim 1, wherein said data storage device isCD-ROM.
 8. A data storage device of claim 1, wherein said data storagestores comprises data of at least one digital image that is associativewith said at least one collectable object.
 9. A data storage device ofclaim 1, wherein said collectable object has more than one predeterminedcharacteristic thereof, and, said data storage device comprises data ofmore than one predetermined characteristic of said at least onecollectable object.
 10. A data storage device of claim 1, furthercomprising at least one electronic link that can fetch at least onepredetermined external database that maintains data associated with saidat least one collectable object.
 11. A collectable display panel andelectronic data storage device comprising: at least one display panelformed for housing and displaying at least one collectable object andhaving associative visual markings of said at least one collectableobject; and, a data storage device that is non-detachably secured tosaid at least one display panel, and comprising data that includes atleast in part, data relating to at least one said collectable objecthoused in said display panel, and said data storage device beingcompatible with a standard computer system or equivalent system, andconnectable by wired or wireless means.
 12. A collectable display panelof claim 11, wherein said data storage device is stored in an auxiliarypanel that is interconnected to said at least one display panel.
 13. Acollectable display panel of claim 11, wherein said data storage deviceis stored in one display panel of a plurality of interconnected orrelated display panels.
 14. A collectable display panel of claim 11,wherein said collectable object is a coin.
 15. A data storage device ofclaim 11, wherein said data storage device is a Flash Memory type datastorage device.
 16. A data storage device of claim 11, wherein said datastorage stores comprises data of at least one digital image associativewith said at least one collectable object.
 17. A data storage device ofclaim 11, wherein said collectable object has more than onepredetermined characteristic thereof, and, said data storage devicecomprises data of more than one predetermined characteristic of said atleast one collectable object.
 18. A data storage device of claim 11,further comprising at least one electronic link that can fetch at leastone predetermined external database that maintains data associated withsaid at least one collectable object.
 19. A data storage device of claim11, wherein said data storage device can be connected to said computersystem or equivalent system by a wired connection.
 20. A data storagedevice of claim 11, wherein said data storage device can be connected tosaid computer system or equivalent system by a wireless connection.